Famous people's places / Grosse Pointe Shores
Edsel & Eleanor Ford House
The Albert Kahn–designed lakefront estate where Edsel Ford lived until his death in 1943, and where his son Henry Ford II grew up; now a museum.
01 / The story of this place
Make time for these
The Edsel and Eleanor Ford House sits on Gaukler Point, an 87-acre lakefront estate on Lake St. Clair in Grosse Pointe Shores. Edsel Ford — Henry Ford's only son and Ford Motor Company's president — and his wife Eleanor hired architect Albert Kahn to design the Cotswold-style house and landscape architect Jens Jensen to lay out its gardens, moving in after construction finished in 1929. The couple's children, including future Ford Motor Company chairman Henry Ford II, grew up on the estate. Edsel Ford lived here until his death from stomach cancer in 1943, and Eleanor remained until her own death in 1976. The family later placed the house in a nonprofit trust; it was designated a National Historic Landmark in 2016 and now operates as a museum open for tours.
- Built on Gaukler Point on Lake St. Clair, completed in 1929
- Designed by architect Albert Kahn with gardens by Jens Jensen
- Home of Edsel Ford until his death in 1943
- Henry Ford II grew up here
- National Historic Landmark since 2016, now a museum
Famous Detroiters
Famous people tied to this place 4
Lexicon entries for the people who lived, worked, performed or liked to spend time here.
- Henry Ford II 1917–1987 · automotive executive, president and chairman of Ford Motor Company
Lived here
His parents' lakeside estate, where he spent his youth; now a museum open to visitors.
- Edsel Ford 1893–1943 · president of Ford Motor Company, art patron
Lived here
The Albert Kahn–designed estate at Gaukler Point where the family lived and Edsel died; now a museum with gardens by Jens Jensen.
- Corrado Parducci 1900–1981 · architectural sculptor
Worked here
Lakeshore estate of Edsel Ford, now a house museum; Parducci contributed carved decoration.
- Eleanor Clay Ford 1896–1976 · philanthropist, art patron, Ford Motor Company shareholder
Lived here
Her home for nearly fifty years; under her will it opened to the public as a historic house museum in 1978.
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¼ · Free museum days
Free days here
- Free for everyone The house, grounds and garage need a paid pass.
Sources & fact check · Checked: 2026-09-25
An independently written bilingual guide. This collection is not an attendance-based ranking.
03 / Events
Events at this place
Published events automatically linked from our event guide. Times are local to the venue.
Oct 1, 2026, 2:00 PMNooks & Crannies: Behind-the-Scenes Guided Tour
Edsel & Eleanor Ford House leads a 60-minute behind-the-scenes tour of the Main Residence's hidden spaces from October 1 through November 30 in Grosse Pointe Shores. The first tour is Thursday, October 1, at 2 p.m., and space is limited, so buy tickets ahead.
Nov 10, 2026, 10:30 AMStorytime: Click, Clack, Moo: Cows That Type
Edsel & Eleanor Ford House hosts a storytime on Tuesday, November 10, at 10:30 a.m. at Ford House in Grosse Pointe Shores, featuring Doreen Cronin's Click, Clack, Moo: Cows That Type, followed by playtime. Tickets are free.
Nov 12, 2026, 6:00 PMTrivia Night – November
Edsel & Eleanor Ford House hosts November’s Trivia Night on Thursday, November 12, at 6 p.m. at Ford House in Grosse Pointe Shores, in the Jensen/Kahn Rooms. A relaxed team trivia night with wide-ranging topics; come solo or with friends, teams max out at six.
Nov 14, 2026, 10:00 AMFused Glass Ornament Workshop
Fired and Fused leads a family workshop on Saturday, November 14, 2026, at 10 a.m. at Ford House in Grosse Pointe Shores. Make holiday and winter-themed fused glass ornaments—everyone creates two pieces, ready for pickup two weeks later. Tickets required; ages 8 and up.
Nov 21, 2026, 10:00 AMMaker Studio: Introduction to Coptic Stitch Bookbinding
Elaisha Hilliard leads a hands-on intro workshop on Coptic stitch bookbinding on Saturday, November 21, at 10 a.m. at Ford House in Grosse Pointe Shores. It’s beginner-friendly, and you’ll leave with a finished hardcover book.
Nov 27, 2026, 12:00 PMHoliday Guided Tour: Main Residence
Edsel & Eleanor Ford House offers a guided holiday tour of the Main Residence on Friday, November 27, from noon to 5 p.m. at Ford House in Grosse Pointe Shores. Step inside the Fords' lakeside home and see how they celebrated the season. Tickets are available online.
Nov 27, 2026, 5:30 PMHome for the Holidays at Ford House
Edsel & Eleanor Ford House kicks off its holiday evening walk on Friday, November 27, from 5:30 to 8 p.m. at Ford House in Grosse Pointe Shores. You stroll lit-up gardens and the decorated Main Residence, then finish at the Mistletoe Market. Tickets are required.
Nov 28, 2026, 12:00 PMHoliday Guided Tour: Main Residence
Edsel & Eleanor Ford House leads a holiday guided tour of the Main Residence on Saturday, November 28, at noon in Grosse Pointe Shores. You'll walk through Edsel and Eleanor Ford's lakeside home, and tickets are sold online.
Nov 28, 2026, 5:30 PMHome for the Holidays at Ford House
Edsel & Eleanor Ford House hosts its Home for the Holidays evening on Saturday, November 28, from 5:30 to 8 p.m. at Ford House in Grosse Pointe Shores. You'll stroll lit-up gardens and tour the decorated Main Residence; tickets are required.
Nov 29, 2026, 9:00 AMSensory-Friendly Photos with Santa
Edsel & Eleanor Ford House hosts a sensory-friendly Santa visit on Sunday, November 29, at 9 a.m. at Ford House in Grosse Pointe Shores. Expect a calm, low-stimulus setting, a brief private visit, and a fresh cookie for each child. Capacity is limited; advance reservation required.
Nov 29, 2026, 9:00 AMPhotos with Santa
Edsel & Eleanor Ford House hosts Photos with Santa on Sunday, November 29, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Ford House in Grosse Pointe Shores. Each family gets a short private visit with Santa in a reserved time slot, and advance reservations are required.
Nov 29, 2026, 10:30 AMPhotos with Santa
Edsel & Eleanor Ford House hosts Photos with Santa on Sunday, November 29, from 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Ford House in Grosse Pointe Shores. Each family books a time slot for a short private visit with Santa and a fresh-baked cookie for every child. Advance reservations are required.
Nov 29, 2026, 12:00 PMHoliday Guided Tour: Main Residence
On Sunday, November 29, at noon, Ford House in Grosse Pointe Shores offers a holiday guided tour of the Main Residence, the lakeside home of Edsel and Eleanor Ford. Tickets are available online.
Nov 29, 2026, 4:00 PMHoliday Guided Tour: Main Residence
Edsel & Eleanor Ford House leads a holiday guided tour of the Main Residence on Sunday, November 29, at 4 p.m. at Ford House in Grosse Pointe Shores. You'll see how the Ford family celebrated the season in their lakeside home. Tickets are booked online.
Dec 2, 2026, 2:00 PMSensory-Friendly Photos with Santa
Sensory-friendly Santa visit and photos on Wednesday, December 2, at 2 p.m. at Ford House in Grosse Pointe Shores. Calm, low-stimulus setting, a brief private meet-and-greet, and a fresh cookie for kids. Limited capacity; advance reservations required.
Dec 2, 2026, 2:00 PMPhotos with Santa
Edsel & Eleanor Ford House hosts Photos with Santa on Wednesday, December 2, from 2 to 8 p.m. at Ford House in Grosse Pointe Shores. Each family books a time slot for a short private visit, and every child gets a fresh-baked cookie. Reservations are required.
Dec 2, 2026, 3:30 PMPhotos with Santa
Edsel & Eleanor Ford House hosts Photos with Santa on Wednesday, December 2, from 3:30 to 8 p.m. at Ford House in Grosse Pointe Shores. Each family books a time slot for a short private visit with Santa, and advance reservations are required.
Dec 3, 2026, 6:30 PMBubbly & Bold: A Toast to the Season
Edsel & Eleanor Ford House hosts a sparkling wine and bold red pairing evening on Thursday, December 3, at 6:30 p.m. at Ford House in Grosse Pointe Shores. Each pour comes with a seasonal dish in the Lake Shore Room.
Dec 4, 2026, 5:30 PMHome for the Holidays at Ford House
Edsel & Eleanor Ford House hosts Home for the Holidays on Friday, December 4, at 5:30 p.m. at Ford House in Grosse Pointe Shores: a lights-filled grounds walk, both floors of the Main Residence, and the Mistletoe Market. Timed tickets required; children 2 and under are free.
Dec 4, 2026, 7:00 PMChristmas Concert Over the Cove with Thornetta Davis
Thornetta Davis, Detroit's Queen of the Blues, plays a holiday concert on Friday, December 4, at 7 p.m. in the Lake Shore Room at Ford House in Grosse Pointe Shores, overlooking Ford Cove. Her powerhouse blues and soul voice is the draw, and tickets are sold individually.
Dec 5, 2026, 10:00 AMDrop-In Studio: Ornament Making
Edsel & Eleanor Ford House hosts a free, all-ages drop-in ornament-making studio on Saturday, December 5, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Ford House in Grosse Pointe Shores. Materials and simple instructions provided—no registration needed.
Dec 5, 2026, 5:30 PMHome for the Holidays at Ford House
Edsel & Eleanor Ford House’s three-part evening experience starts Saturday, December 5, at 5:30 p.m. in Grosse Pointe Shores, with softly lit grounds, both floors of the Main Residence, and the Mistletoe Market—an USA TODAY 10Best Top Four pick; ticketed entry, kids 2 and under free.
Dec 6, 2026, 10:00 AMHoliday Tea and Tour
Edsel & Eleanor Ford House hosts a Holiday Tea & Tour on Sunday, December 6, at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. at Ford House in Grosse Pointe Shores. You get champagne, live strings and a holiday tea, then explore the house and grounds. Tickets are sold by the table.
Dec 6, 2026, 11:00 AMHoliday Tea and Tour
Edsel & Eleanor Ford House hosts a holiday tea and house tour on Sunday, December 6, in the Lake Shore Room at Ford House in Grosse Pointe Shores. You get champagne, live strings, then time to explore the residence and grounds at your own pace. Tickets are sold by the table.
Dec 6, 2026, 2:00 PMHoliday Tea and Tour
Edsel & Eleanor Ford House hosts a Holiday Tea & Tour on Sunday, December 6, at the Ford House in Grosse Pointe Shores. Start with champagne and live strings, then wander Eleanor Ford's decorated home; tickets are sold by the table.
Dec 12, 2026, 10:00 AMThe Nutcracker Tea
After more than ten years away, Edsel & Eleanor Ford House brings back The Nutcracker Tea on Saturday, December 12, at 10 a.m. at Ford House in Grosse Pointe Shores. It's a family holiday tradition on the Ford estate, with seating sold by the table.
Dec 20, 2026, 9:00 AMBrunch with Santa
Edsel & Eleanor Ford House hosts a family Brunch with Santa on Sunday, December 20, from 9 to 10:30 a.m. at Ford House in Grosse Pointe Shores. Santa visits each table, with no lines, and you can book a table online.
May 7, 2027, 10:00 AMOutdoor Summer Concerts Package (Three Concerts)
Edsel & Eleanor Ford House is selling a three-concert package for Friday nights on July 16, August 6 and August 20, on the lakeside Terrace in Grosse Pointe Shores with Lake St. Clair behind the stage. Public sales start Friday, May 7, and the package saves you up to $20.